theater

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

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Information

Musical work commissioned by Roald Dahl Foundation in 1994
Composed by Jamaican composer Eleanor Alberga
Libretto by Donald Sturrock
Performances:
- World premiere at Royal Festival Hall, London, 1994
- Conducted by Frans Welser-Möst
- Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Cast: Griff Rhys Jones, Geraldine James

Based on:
- “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

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For more information, see Music Link International. To hire, contact Edition Peters.

Description

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was premiered in London in 1994. It is adapted from Roald Dahl’s subversive version of the well-known fairy tale from his collection of comic verse, Revolting Rhymes. It was performed by the London Philharmonic in a semi-staged version conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, and a cast including Griff Rhys Jones and Geraldine James. It has been revived in concert versions several times since then. The music, by the remarkable Jamaican composer, Eleanor Alberga, is full of drama and magic.

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The Minpins

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Information

Music by Jean Sibelius arranged by Peter Ash
Text adapted by Donald Sturrock
Productions:
- Camerata St. Petersburg, Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia – 1996 (World premiere)
- London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Barbican, London, UK – 2004 (UK premiere)
- Finnish National Opera – May, 2015 (Finnish premiere – details)
- London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK – February 15, 2016 (details)
- London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Barbican, London, UK – September 21, 2016 (details)

Based on:
- The Minpins

For more information, see Music Link International.

Description

The Minpins is an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s last story, which was published after his death. A small boy is drawn into a frightening forest, where he encounters many dangers and surprises as well as a world of tiny people, the Minpins, who live in safety, high up in the trees. Through a combination of skill and heroism, and a flight on the back of a great white swan, the boy defeats a terrifying monster, before bidding a sad and poignant farewell to his new friends.

The story, combined with elements from the Finnish epic legend, the Kalevala, is narrated over a score taken from the orchestral music of Sibelius. Created with the enthusiastic support of the Sibelius Estate in Helsinki, The Minpins received a rapturous reception at its English and Russian language premieres in St. Petersburg in 1996.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Information

Opera composed by Tobias Picker
Productions:
- Los Angeles Opera, December 9, 1998 (World premiere)
- DiCapo Opera, New York, 2009
- Opera Holland Park, 2010 (World premiere of reduced version)
- English Touring Opera, 2011 (European premiere)
- Microscopic Opera Company, September 2011
- Opera San Antonio, 2014
- Boston Modern Orchestra Project, 2014

Based on:
- Fantastic Mr. Fox

For more information, see Music Link International.

Description

Fantastic Mr. Fox is an opera in three acts composed by Tobias Picker to a libretto by Donald Sturrock based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel of the same name. It was premiered by Los Angeles Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on December 9, 1998.

A modern fable, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a story about good vs. evil, animal vs. human, and nature vs. technology. With the help of the other creatures of the forest, Mr. Fox must outwit his enemies to keep his family safe. Mr. Fox finds that he may have stolen one hen too many from the henhouse, as the meanest farmers anywhere — Boggis, Bunce, and Bean (one fat, one short, one lean) — conspire to rid their lands of the Fox family once and for all. The Foxes are able to evade capture with the help of some woodland friends, leaving the farmers laying in wait while the animals help themselves to the fruit of the farmers’ lands. Having had their revenge, the animals return for a sumptuous feast far from danger in the Foxes‘ new home, while the farmers continue to wait in the rain. The opera is available in a singable German version as well.

Cast/Crew

Cast:
- Mrs. Fox: Suzanna Guzmán
- Bennie Foxcub: Jason Housman
- Lennie Foxcub: Theo Lebow
- Jennie Foxcub: Lauren Libaw
- Pennie Foxcub: Amy Recinos
- Farmer Boggis: Louis Lebherz
- Farmer Bunce: Doug Jones
- Farmer Bean: Jamie Offenbach
- Fantastic Mr. Fox: Gerald Finley
- Agnes the Digger: Jill Grove
- Mavis the Tractor: Lesley Leighton
- Miss Hedgehog: Sari Gruber
- Badger the Miner: Malcolm MacKenzie
- Burrowing Mole: Jorge Garza
- Rita the Rat: Josepha Gayer
- Porcupine: Charles Castronovo
Crew:
- Conductor: Peter Ash
- Director: Donald Sturrock
- Costume designer: Gerald Scarfe
- Stage designer: Gerald Scarfe

Reviews

Variety Review by Alan Rich, December 10, 1998
Review by Paul Berenson

Fun Stuff

Watch online:

Elsewhere on the web:

Posters

: Microscopic Opera Company, 2011

Roald Dahl’s The Twits

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Information

Adapted by Enda Walsh
Published by: Nick Hern Books, 2016

Based on:
- The Twits

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Description

Following successful adaptations of Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl’s The Twits has been mischievously adapted for the stage by the brilliantly inventive playwright Enda Walsh. Dahl’s funniest, stinkiest book is turned upside down, as Walsh—best known for adapting the film Once into an internationally acclaimed musical—brings this revolting revolution thrillingly to life.

Covers

: Nick Hern Books, 2016

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka

Sections: Information | Description | Soundtrack Covers

Information

Adapted by Tim McDonald and Leslie Bricusse
Published by: Music Theatre International

Based on:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Description

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka is a musical play that combines elements of both Roald Dahl’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and of the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with newly created material. The play has several versions: the original version which premiered in 2004, the Junior version, the Kids version, and the Theatre for Young Audiences version. All are owned by Music Theatre International, the company that owns the Willy Wonka license.

Soundtrack Covers

: 2004

The Golden Ticket

Information

Opera composed by Peter Ash
Productions:
- Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, June 13, 2010 (World premiere)
- Wexford Festival Opera, October 2010 (European premiere)
- Atlanta Opera, March 2012

Based on:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Buy this CD:

For more information, see Music Link International.

Description

The Golden Ticket is an opera based on Roald Dahl’s classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by the contemporary American composer Peter Ash, with a libretto by Donald Sturrock. The Golden Ticket was commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director; and Felicity Dahl. It premiered at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on June 13, 2010 in a co-production between OTSL, Ireland’s Wexford Festival Opera, and American Lyric Theater.

Cast/Crew

Cast:
- Charlie: Michael Kepler Meo
- Willy Wonka: Daniel Okulitch
- Mike Teavee: David Trudgen
- Veruca Salt : Jennifer Rivera
- Lord Salt: David Kravitz
- Violet Beauregard: Tracy Dahl
- Augustus Gloop: Andrew Drost
- Grandpa Joe: Frank Kelley
- Mr. Beauregard/Grandpa George: Oren Gradus
- Mrs. Gloop/Grandma Georgina: Kristin Clayton
- Mrs. Teavee/Grandma Josephine: Mary Ann McCormick
- Candy Mallow/Squirrelmistress: Jennifer Berkebile
Crew:
- Director: James Robinson
- Conductor: Timothy Redmond
- Scenic Design: Bruno Schwengl
- Costume Design: Martin Pakledinaz
- Choreographer: Seán Curran

Reviews

Los Angeles Times Review by James C. Taylor, June 20, 2010

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George’s Marvellous Medicine

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Information

Adapted by David Wood
Published by:
- Samuel French, USA.

Based on:
- George’s Marvelous Medicine

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Description

George lives on a farm, managed by his mother and father. Their lives are thrown into disarray by the arrival of Grandma, who behaves appallingly. George tries to make her ‘better’ by creating a marvellous medicine, which has the most extraordinary effect on Grandma, who grows and grows until she bursts through the ceiling. George’s father realises that the magic medicine could work on his farm animals, providing extra food to help feed a hungry world. But attempts to make more medicine lead to hilarious and frustrating happenings… The play uses puppets to considerable effect, plus a Giant Chicken, played by an actor.

Covers

: Samuel French

: Samuel French

The Magic Finger

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Information

Adapted by David Wood
Published by:
- Samuel French Ltd.

Based on:
- The Magic Finger

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Description

People familiar with Roald Dahl’s imaginative, whimsical and fantastical classics will love The Magic Finger, an adventure about a girl with special powers. When Lucy senses injustice, she gets angry and when she gets angry her Magic Finger heats up and then, well, ANYTHING can happen. When Lucy gets upset with her best friend William and his family for shooting ducks for sport, she points her Magic Finger at them and turns them all into bird-size people while the ducks become the size of humans. Lucy’s indignation turns the world into a place where the powerless are in charge and the powerful are taught a very big lesson. Playwright, David Wood’s adaptions of the works of Roald Dahl have entertained and delighted audiences for years, and with The Magic Finger Wood brings another stellar Dahl story to life on the stage.

Covers

: Samuel French

Danny the Champion of the World

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Information

Adapted by David Wood
Published by:
- Samuel French, USA.
- Puffin, UK.

Based on:
- Danny the Champion of the World

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Description

A collection of short plays for schools and drama groups, adapted from Roald Dahl’s brilliant story, Danny the Champion of the World.

Could you be Danny, or his dad, or even red-faced Mr Victor Hazell? Danny thinks his dad is the most marvellous and exciting father a boy could wish for. Now you can join in their daring and devilish plots with these fun-to-perform plays adapted by David Wood.